Apparatus for baling fibers and the like



June 29, 1954 c w, cox

APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1951 INVENTOR. CHARL E 6 W. C OX June 29, 1954 c. w. cox

APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Owm OON Ia mw NEE.

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DO- 240 m9 2 o 6- $20 INVENTOR. CHARL E8 W COX ATTORNEY ,8 k a Q R June 29, 1954 c. w. cox

APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1951 C. W. COX

APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS AND THE LIKE June 29, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 11, 1951 INVENTOR- C'HARL E6 W C0 X 'J I I J l.J

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APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. CHA L 115 6 O A zine and baling chamber in section,

Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE APPARATUS FOR BALING FIBERS "AND-THE LIKE? Charles Wesley Cox, Springfield, 2a., assignor to A bridah' Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

Del'.,'a'c'9rporation of Delaware Application May ll, 1951, Serial No. 225,901 12 Claims. (01. 5 .357

his inve t on r at to m thod n apparatus forbaling or packaging; staple fiber and the like, andother fibrous or particulate material, such-as'grass, hay, alfalfa, etc.

This application is a. continuation-in-part of my p dine li on. e i lN 8 34 file N vembe 5 L9 It is an object of the invention to provideran improvedisystem of packaging fibrous materials, which-.{term in the present specification and the cla ms i in en o be .s n t a ype 91 materials whichitinay be desirable to compress for the preparation of a package for storage, shipment andthe ;1ike. n more particular ob ject of the inventionqis to provide an irnproved system or packaging in which the material to be a ka e i preli in l c mp s and e transferred after compression into a wrapper, suchas a carton for protecting the product dur- 1.11s s pm nt st a a d e i e- A further-object of the invention is to provide an autonlatic apparatus adapted- :to carry .out theinvention. Other objects and advantages of the i vention vwill be apparent o h d win and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which. is illustrative of the invention, a preferred form of an automatic apparatus constituting one. embodiment and adapted to execute the methods of the invention in effioient manner, is shown.'

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the automatic apparatus with cylinderfi (seeliiigure 2) removed to facilitate a clear showing. Also the hydraulic lines -,to the cylinders and the controlfor those .linesareremoved'to clarify'theillustration. V

Figure 2 is a section taken on lines II-II of Fieurl s and 3,

'Ei'gure .3 is anend view with the carton maga- Eigure liisfa section on .line lv lv of Figurez, Figure 5 is along'itudinal section throughthe haling. chamber on line VV of Figure 2,'

Figure 5a is an enlargeddetail view of a portion of the machine shown in Figure ,5, t

Figure 6 'a diagrammatic viewshowing the electrical and hydraulic connections for operating the automatic apparatus,

Figure Tfis a graph showing operation of the t me . am and e de of th t mninssh mb n E su ell i a pla y ew q a referre form o 2 ram head, showing its ,retationship with the forked fiber-retaining niember, the rods of are-shown in section.

The present invention generally involves the pressing of the material to be baled in anendwis'e direction while confining it within lateral limits, and after sufiicient material has been compressed in this fashion, transferring the material endwise into an open-ended carton. Before the transfer-is madepa closing carton end is placed against one end of the compressed material, and this carton endis simultaneously transferred with the .inaterial into the car-ton, the material en tering first and the carton end closing the open end of the receiving carton, after which the carton is bound. fastened orlsecured, as by strapping and then discharged forstor'age or shipment. This compressing action within laterally confining Walls provides a compact mass which has a tendency to expand endwise andver'y little 'of such tendency in other directions. flh'e .gr'eatest pressure is, therefore, exerted on the endshaving comparatively small areas, but the bulging at the ends can easily be pre vented or reduced to an unobje ctionable minimum by a single strap. The

lateral suriaces of the carton have practically no bulging tendency but the compacted fibers support or back up the carton side'sas well as the ends so that a sound package is obtained} the container walls of which are well protected against deformation or puncture when ac'ci 'dent'ally droppedor struckfby other objects.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises as one aspect'an aut ma ic apparatus for accomplishing the? method hereinabove described. This apparatus comprises a"ra'm 'a'dapted'to be reciprocated througha tampirig, packing or compressing chamterpne or more times, depending upon how compactit is desired that the package be and the relative amountof material received at a single feeding compared to the dimensions of the packageffinally desired. The apparatus also comprises. a b'aling or packaging chamber adapted toflreceiv'ea' carton and to'hold such carton while the packed or compressed material is transferred from the'ta'rnp'ing chamber; Other sui a Qsd tsl a d 1 37 i t r o -c t .casinei d r 'e into twomainzc am er B an 1, .th ormerserr nsa a am ne or sqmpr s ins hamber an the ilattcriserrins as a P ck- 3 aging or baling chamber. A vertically reciprocable plate 2|], having an aperture 2| (see Figure 5) in its lower end, slides within a suitable guideway formed by grooves 22 in the opposed upright members 23. The plate 2|! passes through slots 24 and 25 in the upper and lower walls respectively of the casing l5 and additional guiding members 26 provided with grooves 21 may be disposed on opposite sides of the path of the plate beneath the casing I5. The plate 2i! is operated by a piston reciprocably driven within the cylinder 6 by means of a fluid, and preferably a liquid. The aperture 2| is sufiiciently large to allow the passage of the ram 28 which operates within the casing l5. The cross-section of the ram corresponds with that of the interior of casing l5 but is somewhat smaller, so as to provide a clearance of about A; to A1 inch or so around the front end of the ram. This allows the ram head 28 to fit within the folded side flaps of the first carton end to be inserted. A slide bearing strip 28a (see Figure 10) of brass or the like may be provided beneath the ram or all around it at the back portion thereof. The crosssection may be round, oblong or an desired shape but a rectangular or specifically a square section is preferred. The ram 28 is connected by means of the rod 29 to a piston within the main ram cylinder 30 which is hydraulically operated.

An opening 3| in the top of the casing l5 (Figures 2 and 10) serves as the entrance for the material to be packaged and a hopper 32 may be provided to guide the material into the entrance. This opening 3| is preferably near the end of the casing |5 to which the ram 28 moves when it is retracted. While horizontal disposition of the casing and ram is shown, the invention is equally adaptable to vertical disposition with the chamber I9 below l8. A downwardly inclined chute would then serve to feed the fiber through opening 3| in the side.

At the top of the casing l5 and extending from the ram end under the hopper 32, there is provided a slidable closure or cover plate 3|a which slides through a slot 3 lb and along the guideway formed between the fixed plates 3|c and 3ld. A transverse bracket 3|e secures a permanent or electromagnetic magnet 3| ,7 to the underside of cover 3|a. The ram head is of a magnetic material so that forward movement of the head 23 draws the plate 3|a into position closing the opening 3|. The abutment 3'lg limits the forward motion of the plate 3 la but the ram 28 positively engages and pushes the plate em out of opening 3| on the return stroke of the ram.

A plate 33 is reciprocated vertically by a piston within cylinder 1 adjacent the end of casing |5 from which the final package is adapted to be discharged. Members 34 are provided to serve as a guideway for the plate 33.

When plate 33 is in its lower position serving to close the discharge end of the casing l5 and plate 20 is in its lower position, the tamping chamber I8 is separated from the packaging chamber l3. This makes it possible to position the wrapper materials within the packaging chamber l9 and then after closing the plate 20 to feed and tamp the material to be packaged within the chamber |5 without disturbing the wrapper sections in position within the cham ber I9.

Means is provided for inserting wrapper sections into the packaging chamber and for some of these sections use is made of the ram, whereas for others, a separate means is provided. The

means for inserting the main body of the carton comprises a hopper or magazine 35 disposed to one side of the packaging chamber. The adjacent side wall 36 of the packaging chamber |9 is hinged as at 3'! (Figure 3) and is adapted to be swung to closed position shown in solid lines in Figure 3 and to the open position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 by hydraulic means comprising the cylinder and the rod 38 connecting a piston within the cylinder to a lug 33 on the side wall or door 36. The cylinder is pivotally mounted at 40 and the rod 38 makes a pivotal connection with lug 39 in order to allow of the swinging motion. When the door 36 is in its wide-open position it is inclined downwardly from the horizontal in the direction away from the hinge 31 and serves as a guiding support for the carton body to be inserted. The carton bodies 4| (see Figure 9) constitute a hollow sleeve of cardboard, prefolded so as to form the proper shape when reoponed upon insertion into the packaging chamber. In the magazine 35, however, they are flattened to a closed position. The cartons 4| rest upon spaced supporting members 42 between which the cross-head 43 secured to the piston rod 44 and carrying rigidly secured thereto a carton-pushing plate 45, is adapted to reciprocate. An opening 46 extends clear across the bottom of the wall of hopper 35 which faces the packaging chamber l9 so that when the piston in cylinder 2 is moved to the right as viewed in Figure 3, plate 45 forces the lowermost carton 4| through the slot 46 into position on top of the bottom of chamber l9 and the open door 36. Motion of the pusher-plate 45 in the opposite direction slides it out of the cartons 4| and allows the next lower carton to fall into position for insertion on the next stroke of the pusher-plate 45. The upper edge of the door 36 has a longitudinal projection, lip, or ridge 36a, and when the door 36 is swung upwardly into closed position, the ridge 36a catches the carton edge and forces the carton to open itself automatically. It finally occupies its position in the packaging chamber IS with all of the four walls of the carton in close proximity to the four walls of the chamber. It will be noted particularly, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, that the inside dimensions within the packaging chamber are somewhat larger than the inside dimensions within the compressing chamber |8 so that when the carton 4| is disposed within the chamber IS the inside walls of the carton 4| leave an unobstructed passage somewhat larger than the passage within chamber |8. If desired, this unobstructed passage within the carton 4-| may be substantially the same in cross-section as the passage in chamber l8, but it is preferred to have a little favoring of the carton to facilitate insertion of the carton ends and the material to be baled,

The press is provided near the feeding end with an arrangement for feeding the carton ends into the path of the ram at proper times relative to the other opera-tion of the machine. This arrangement comprises an apertured slide 41 connected by a rod 48 to the piston within the cylinder 5 and reciprocable transversely of the casing |5 through a slot having upper and lower walls 49 and 50 respectively constituting a guideway therefor, The slide 41 has two apertures 5| and 52 spaced apart by an intervening rib 53 so that when one of the apertures is in alignment with the chamber |8 of casing IS the other is in alignment with one of the loading systems 54. A shown-in the-drawingsthe two loading systems are similar in constructionbutone-is turned around'relati-veto the other forpurposes thatwill be apparent from the description "hereinafter. Each loading- -system54 "comprises a lower chamber 55 in alignment with one of the apertures or 52 when the other of such apertures is in alignment with the chamber i 8 of the press." Thisloading chamber maybe considered to be defined by a stationary backing plate 5t and the end wal-l and laterahwalls of a recessed enclosing member-56am which is concentrically-secured a supporting flange 51 for one of the operating cylinders" 4 and i 9. Each of these cylinders-is provided with a piston connected by a rod-58 to a recessing head '59;- -A vertical'sl-idewayis provided between members 60 and 61 for guiding the slide--62. This slide--62 is secured by anarm- 63 and a connecting rod '64 to a piston-within one of the driving cylinders 3 and 8 for reciprocating 'the slide into and out of they load-ing chamber 55. When the slide 62 is in its upper positiom its thin lower end is in alignmentwith a-number; of carton ends 65 in a magazine-thereof. One of the pistons in cylinders H and i2 urges a-plate 66 by means of the connecting --rod-61 against the back of the magazine of carton-ends-which are in flattened condition during Such storage This pressure against :the cartonends is maintained constant regardless of the-number of such carton ends in the magazine, as it is dependent on the pressure of the fluid in the cylinders. The shoulder 68 is disposed above the foremost carton end in the magazine when "theyslide "62 is in its uppermost position so that upon the next downward motion of the slideyit moves the foremost carton end downwardly into the loading chamber "55 where it is disposed in theway of the recessing ram or "head 59 between suchihead and one of the apertures'5l and 52. As will appearhereinafter, cartonv ends may be'moved downwardly into the loading chambers '55 on both sides. of the press simultaneously, if desired, by means of the slide 62 and after such loading, the slides 62 return to their uppermost position in readiness for the next loading stroke. It will be noted that the apertures 55 {and 52tjare of approximately the same .size as the internal cross-section of chamber EB'but the overall dimensions of the flattened carton ends as disposed in 'themagazines are considerably larger to the extent of four lateral or peripheral flaps F spaced around the central portion C as shown in Figure 8. Hence, when the recessing head 59 moves forward and presses the carton .endinto one of the aperturesy5'l and 52, the edge portions are bent 'backwardly'over the outer edges of the ram59.

The first position of slide 41 in the baling cycle is such that aperture 52 (see Figure 4') is in alignment with its loadi g hamber'5'5 d i ture 5i is in alignment with the main ram head 28 in casing 15. During or after the insertion of the main wrapper section or carton :body M, thepistonin cylinder Amoves the recessing head 59 forward, thereby foldinguthe lateral flaps 'F at a 90 angle to the centralareaC of theend wrapper section or carton .end and disposingjthe folded cartonend entirely within apertures I the pushes the carton end clear through both the tamping chamber and-the packaging chamber in whichthe-maincarton bodyhas alreadybeen inserted until it comes to restwithits mainarea 0 against the end gate 33 and its flaps'F in contact-with the inside wall of the main carton bod-y 4|.-- 1

After insertion of the one end of the carton, the ram head 28 is returnedand cylinderfi lowers the piateZll to close off baling chamber 19 from tampingchamber l8.

After the ramhead-28 has been returned; the material-to be baled; such as staple fiber, or a portion thereoiis fed through hopper 32 into the casing 15. The ram head 28 thenmoves forwardto a position which is spaced from plated!) a distance corresponding approximately to the length of the package to be made, thatis, the distancebetween plate 20 and end-plate 33'. In moving to this position, it compresses the material in chamber I8 against the plate 2-0.; 'A dog -69; fixedly carried on a rod l-Dprojecting-from a collar rigidly attached to the piston rod 29 opens a toggle'switch' i2 through'the finger l3 and thisoper-ateselectrically to stop the forward motion of the ram and to immediately-reverse the ram. If, as is generally the case, in ore than one such portion of the material is desired in the final-package, thera-m head -28 returns, a second portion is fed into thecasing, 'this' portion is compressed, and so on, 'untilthe amount introduced-is suificient-forthe-final package desired. A pressure switch '74 connected to the cylinder 88 serves to control the amount of material to form the package. ;Means operated by the pressure switch 14 and described hereinafter is provided for rendering switch- 12 ineffective after sufficient material is tamped against plate 20 so that the ram head 28 can insert the closing carton end, and after strapping, will completethe stroke to eject the completed bale, and another -to introduce the first carton end.

On each return stroke of the head-28, a dog 15 on a rod 16 secured to collar -1l opens a valve 17 (normally held closed by an internal spring, which, however, allows a return flow from the top of cylinder 10 during upward motion of the piston therein) by means of the actuating finger T8 and this allows the hydraulic liquid to flow through line it connected to line 129 into the top of cylinder It! to lower a set of fiber-retaining rods 89 connected to a common rod 8| to the piston in cylinder 16. Dog 15 is of sufficient length to assure complete lowering of rods 81! before dog 15 releases finger 18 which then causes valve 1'! to close under spring return action. The position of ram head 28 at which the rods are lowered is just after the head 28 has passed under the rods 80 so thatsuch rods serve to prevent the material from re-expanding and following the ram head 28 under the feed entrance 3! to the casing [5. This keeps this entrance clear for a fresh supply of material after every return stroke, Figure 11 shows a modified ra n head 28b having vertical slots 3i which permit the insertion of rods 80d which correspond to rods 80 but. preferably have a narrow cross-section, as shown. The rear slopediend 15a of dog i5 is set to open valve 11 at or very quickly after the instant during the return stroke of the ,ram 28 when the plane through the bottoms of slots 30] passesunder rods 80a; The rods thus enter the slots back of the fibrousv material facing the ra n head so that they do not have to force their way ,against the expanding tendencies of the fibrous mass. Instead of introducing rods 80 or 80a from only one side of the chamber, an additional set of such rods may be provided on the opposite side of the chamber and both sets introduced simultaneously.

A dog 82 on rod 10 closes switch 12 which causes the ram to again move forward until switch 12 is again opened by dog 69. This reciprocation occurs until the material tamped creates sufiicient resisting pressure to actuate switch 14 which through a relay system described hereinbelow renders the switch ineffective so that dogs 69 and 82 can no longer limit and control the movements of the ram head 28.

After pressure switch 14 thus cuts out switch 12, the ram head 28 returns, the piston in cyl- .inder 9 advances the recessing head to insert the closing carton end into aperture 52, and then returns, the piston in cylinder shifts the loaded aperture 52 into the casing I5, and then the ram head 28 advances to press the closing carton end against the tamped material. At the same time plate 20 is raised. Since the aperture 52 is loaded from the side opposite that from which the aperture 5| is loaded, the lateral flaps are bent toward the tamped material and are the first parts of the carton end to engage the material.

When the ram head 28 has advanced to bring the carton end against the material while pressing it to bale size in chamber I9, dog 83 closes a spring-return or spring-release switch 84 by engaging a finger 85. This stops the ram 28 for reasons explained hereinafter in the position shown in Figure 5, and operates a time relay.

This stoppage is followed by insertion of the strip 86 of flexible strapping material, such as of spring steel, by means of the feed rolls 81 and 88. To facilitate the insertion of strip 88, the bottom of the baling chamber I9 is provided with a shallow groove 89 (Figure 5), the plate 20 is provided with an arcuate-bottomed notch 90, the ram head 28 is provided with a groove 9|, the upper edge of the aperture in plate 20 is provided with an arcuate-bottomed notch 92, the top wall of the chamber I9 has a groove 93, and the end plate 33 has a groove 94 terminating with gradually sloped curves at 95 and 9B. A groove 91 in the lower edge of the end plate 33 deflects the upwardly fed strip 86 into the groove 89 and the curved bottom surfaces of notches 90, 92, and the curves 95 and 96 guide the leading end of the strip around the corners, and the flexibility of the strip allows it to be forced to encircle the closed carton and to overlap itself along the bottom wall.

Any suitable means for fastening may be emvployed, such as spot welding, banding or crimping. A door 98 allows the insertion of a conven-- tional banding device for tightening and fastening the overlapped ends of the strip together and cutting the fastened strip from that supply.

Figure 6 shows electrical and hydraulic circuits for operating the system automatically in proper sequence. The electrical circuit lines are dotted while the hydraulic or pneumatic circuit lines are solid. Most of the actions in the baling cycle,

shown widely spaced to facilitate illustration.

Each cam has a high portion which presses a swingably mounted switch arm against a fixed contact to close an electric circuit. The time during which the switch remains closed is determined by the arcuate length of the-cam rise. The relative times of closing and duration of closing of the several switches by the cams are shown in Figure 7 in which the dark bars represent the rises of the respective cams.

Operation The description of the operation could start with any stage of the cycle since once the machine is started, the cycle is repeated. As a matter of convenience, the following description starts at the time the tamped material acquires sufiicient compactness to close the pressure switch 14 since this starts operation of the control motor 99. At this time, a main carton section 4| and the first carton end are disposed Within the baling chamber I9 and the slide 41 is disposed with the opening 5I in the casing I5 and opening 52 in readiness to receive the other carton end disposed between it and the corresponding recessing head 59.

The main switch I I0 is closed during the operation of the machine. Lead-lines III and H2 then are in circuit with the source of electricity I I3, such as 110 volt A. C. The coil of a normally open relay H4 is connected at one end through line I I5 to line I I2 and at the other side through line H511 to one terminal of switch 14 so that when switch 14 is closed, the contactor of relay I I4 closes the circuit through lines I I I, I I6, motor 99, line H1, and line I I2. Pushbutton H8 in line I I9 provides an alternate circuit for driving motor 99 under the control of the operator.

Immediately after motor 99 starts, cam IIJI closes the switch associated with it, thereby connecting line II9 to motor 99, through leads IOIa and IOIb. This cam, therefore, acts to provide a holding circuit for the motor 99 cutting oil! the motor current at the end of the timer sequence as shown in Figure 1. Also, when motor 99 starts, cam I09 closes the switch between lines I20 and HI, the former being connected to line I I2 and the latter to the coil of a normally closed relay I22. The other end of this coil is connected through lines II9 to line III so that energization of relay I22 opens its contactor and the circuit from line III to line I23 and switch 12 is broken. In addition, the current flow is interrupted from switch 12 through lines I24 and. I25 to the coil I26 of the solenoid-operated fourway hydraulic valve I21, which may be the conventional spool valve well known in the hydraulic power art. This de-energizes the coil and the valve I21 is returned to de-energized position under the influence of a spring. The valve I21 is connected to the ends of the main ram cylinder 30 by pipes I28 and I29 and is connected to the hydraulic power source, such as a pump I30 by means of pipe I3I connected to the common feed line I32. The discharge line I33 connects the valve I21 to the reservoir I34 through a common line I35. When de-energization of coil I26 thus shifts valve I21, the hydraulic fluid is passed through line I29 to return the ram head 28. On each return of the ram 28, dog 15 opens valve 11 which causes cylinder I0 to lower rods immediately after the head 28 passes therebelow.

Cam I05 closes the circuit through coil I38 by means of lines I31 and H2 on one side and lines I38, I39, H9, and III on the other side. This energization of coil I38 shifts valve I40 and causes oil flow from line I4I through line I42 into cylinder 9, thereby moving the recessing head 59 against the carton end and forcing the -connected to line I I2 by line I66.

feeds the hydraulic fluid through line I43 to the other end of cylinder 6, thereby returning the .recessing head 56. Then cam 35a closes the circuit to solenoid I44 which shifts valve I45 andcauses the hydraulic liquid to flow through line I 45a to the cylinder 5' and this causes shifting of the aperture plate 41 to bring aperture 52 into alignment in casing I5.

Then cam I04 closes the circuitbetween lines I46 and I41. Line I46 is connected through lines IIS to line I I I, and line I41 is connected through one of two normally closed contactors of a relay I48 to line I49 and one end of coil I26, the other end of which coil is connected by lines I66 and HI to line II2. This energization of coil I26 shifts valve I 21 which elevates rods 66 and advances the ram head 26, forcing the closing carton end into the baling chamber.

At, or shortly after, the beginning of this stroke of the ram head 28, cam I61 closes the circuit through the coil I60 of the solenoid-operated valve "II. This shifts valve I6I to pass the liquid through line I62 into cylinder6, thereby raising the plate 26 between tamping and baling chambers I8 and I9.

I52 which closes valve I53 and stops the ram vhead 28.

The time relay I56 permits the strapping operation hereinabove described and also the lifting of the end gate 33 which is effected by the cam I 08 closing the circuit between lines I63 and IE4 and energizing coil I65 which is the valve I66a and causes flow of liquid into the lower end of cylinder 1 through line I61.

When the gate 33 is up, the time relay I56 interrupts the currentthrough coil I52 and this opens valve I53, allowing liquid flow into cylinder 30 to advance the ram head 28 and eject the package.

Instead of using a time relay-the relay .I56 may be an ordinary type and. an additional relay 326 having a normally closed contactor .333 in series with line-I51 and the normally .open contacts of-relay I56 may be relied upon. The sole- .noid of relay 326 isconnected in series with a normally open switch 336 and lines III and 112 by lines 321, 328, and 329. Switch 334 is provided in line 328; it is left open if I56 is a time .relay but left closed if I56 is an-ordinary relay.

333, thereby de-energizing coil I52 and opening valve I53 so that the ram head 26 moves forward to eject the *package.

After the package has been ejected, the :dwell -of cam I04 then opens its switch which breaks the circuit through lines I41, I49, and the .coil I26, causing the valve 121 to shift and return the ram head 28 to-fully retracted position. Dur- Coil I65 shifts 10 ing this return stroke of ram head 28, cam I68 opens its switch, so that coil I65 is de-energized and the gate 33 is lowered.

Then cam I66 closes the circuit betweenlines I68 and I69 energizing coil I16 connected by line I1I to line II2. This shifts valve I12 and causes liquid to flow from pipe I13 through pipe I14 into the upper end of cylinder I for opening and lowering the side wall 36 of the packaging chamber I9. When the Wall 36 is completely lowered, sequence valve I15 opens, allowing liquid into the left end of cylinder 2, thereby causing the plate to push a carton body section 4i into place on the bottom and lowered side wall of chamber I9. The sequence valve I15 is of the type allowing free flow in the reverse direction. The so-called counterbalance valve, directly operated, internal drain of Vickers, Inc., shown in Figure 13 of that companys catalog copyrighted 1946 and entitled Vickers Pressure Control, Hydro-Cushion Type Valves for Oil Hydraulic Systems, Bulletin 45-34, is an example of the type that may be used.

- While liquid flows through pipe I'M it also flows through a branch I16 and branches I11 and I16 therefrom into the upper ends of cylinders 3 and 6 which causes each of the slides 62 to move a cartons-rid down into the loading chambers on either side of the casing I5. When cam I66 opens its switch, the valve I12 shifts and the pistons in cylinders I, 2, 3 and 8 all return to their former positions. A sequence valve I19 (like I15) assures the return of plate 45 before side wall 3.6 is closed.

Then cam I62 closes the circuit between lines I66 and I64, energizing coil [82 connected by line I83 to. line IIZ. This shifts valve I64 and feeds liquid from pipe -I85 through pipe I66 into cylinder 4, causing the recessing head 56 to insert the first carton end into aperture 5I of the aperture plate. Then the dwell ofcam I62 opens the circuit to'coil I62,,shifting the valveI 6A and feeding liquid into, the other end of cylinder 4 through pipe I81. After the recessing head is retracted, cam IBM-opens the circuit to solenoid I44, allowing spring return of valve I45 which causes flow of hydraulic liquid to the outward end of cylinder 5. This shifts plate 41 and disposes the loaded carton end in aperture 5i in the path of ram head 29 in the main casing and the empty aperture 52 in readiness to receive its carton end previously lowered into the loading chamber as above described.

Then cam I63 closes the circuit between lines I66 and I6I, energizing coil I92 of relay I48, opening the two normally closed contactors and closing the normally open contactor I93. The contactor I63 energizes coil I26 through lines I24 and I25, I56, I5I, and M2 .on the one hand and lines III, H9, I96, and .IIII on the other. This shifts valve I21 causing the main ram head 28 to move forward andpush the carton end through to the end of the packaging chamber. Since the closing of the switch associated with cam I63 shifts the contactor of the relay I46, the middle contactor element thereof opens the circuit ,between lines and I54 50 that there is a dead circuit through switch 64 and hence when the dog 63 trips the finger 65, nothinghappens to stop the forward motion of the ram head 26, and the carton end is pushed through to the very end of the packaging chamber.

Assam I63 comes to the end of its rise, its corresponding switch is opened and the coil I92 of relay M8 is ,de-energized. The shifting .of con- 11 tactor I93 opens the circuit through the solenoid I26 so that valve I2I shifts and the ram head 28 starts to return. At the end of this return stroke, cam I6I breaks the circuit through solenoid I66 which causes shifting of the valve I6I and the lowering of the middle slide gate 26 by virtue of the descent of the piston in cylinder 6. At about the same time, cam I69 opens the circuit between lines I26 and I2I, de-energizing the solenoid of relay I22. This closes the circuit from line III through lines I23, I94, switch I2, lines I24, I25, solenoid I26, lines I56, II and H2. As a result of the closing of this circuit and of the closing of switch I2 by dog 82 at the end of the return stroke of the ram head 28, solenoid I26 is energized and shifts valve I21, causing the ram 28 to advance and when the foremost slope b of dog I5 opens valve 11, which occurs before the ram head reaches the rods, the rods 86 or 86a are caused to be lifted. This forward motion of the ram presses the fiber or other material introduced through the hopper into the tamping chamber I8 and the forward motion of the ram is limited by dog 69 which opens the switch I2 through the finger I3. Opening of this switch reverses valve I2I, causing the liquid to flow through line I29 into the other end of cylinder 36. As the ram 28 is thus returned, the dog I5 opens valve II through finger I8, the rearmost end 15a of such dog being set upon the rod I6 in such a position that the valve 11 is opened just after the ram 28 passes the rods 86 or, when the slotted ram head 28b of Figure 11 is used, just after the plane containing the bottoms of slots 36I passes rods 86a. Opening of valve 11 causes the liquid to flow through line I9 into the upper end of cylinder I6, thereby lowering rods 86 or 8611 to hold the fiber or other material and to keep it from following with the ram 28. When the ram returns, dog 82 closes switch I2 causing the ram to again move forward, pressing the staple or other material into the tamping chamber. This reciprocation of the ram and the retaining rods 86 or 86a occurs until sufiicient material has been tamped in the chamber I8 to actuate the pressure switch I4, at which time the sequence of operations hereinbefore described is repeated.

A fluid line 263 branches off line I32 and leads to a valve 264, the spool of which is actuatable by the hand lever 205. Normally, the valve is set to direct the liquid through line 266 to the closed ends of cylinders I I and I2, thereby urging plates 66 against the carton ends in the magazines. To release the plates 66, lever 265 is shifted to direct the liquid through line 261. The valve 264 is provided with discharge pipe 268.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for packaging material in bulk comprising a casing, a removable transverse partition for dividing the interior of the casing into two chambers spaced endwise of each other, a removable plate at one end of the casing, a reciprocable ram in the casing, means extending through the other end of the casing for reciproeating the ram, walls defining an opening near the latter end of the casing for feeding bulk material into the casing in the path of the ram, means for limiting the extent of forward motion of the ram whereby the compressed mass is brought to a definite volume within the casing between the ram and the partition, materialretaining means movable into and. out of the casing at a position adjacent the material feed opening in the casing and between this opening and the partition, means for reciprocating said lastnamed retaining means, means responsive to the position of the ram head for controlling the actuation of the latter reciprocating means to insert the retaining means into the casing after the ram passes said retaining means on its return stroke, and to retract the retaining means on the forward stroke of the ram.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising means for rendering the limiting means and the controlling means inoperative when a predetermined pressure is reached in compressing the material with the ram, and means for removing the transverse partition after the predetermined pressure is reached.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 comprising a loading chamber at one side of the casing between the feed opening and the adjacent end of the casing, and an apertured slide reciprocable transversely of the casing and loading chamber.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 comprising a magazine for storing carton ends adjacent the loading chamber, and means for transferring a carton end from the magazine to the loading chamber.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 comprising a plunger reciprocable in the loading chamber perpendicularly of the plane of the slide for pressing a carton end into an aperture of the slide, and means for moving the apertured slide to shift the loaded aperture into alignment with the ram in the casing.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which there are two loading chambers with plungers therein on opposite sides of the casing, the slide has two apertures spaced apart so that when one of the apertures is in alignment with the casing, the other is in alignment with the plunger in one of the loading chambers, a magazine is associated with each loading chamber and the carton end-transferring means places the carton ends on opposite sides of the plane of the apertured slide, and the plungers in the respective loading chambers are on the same sides of the plane of the slide as the carton ends therein.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which a side wall of the chamber defined between the partition and the end plate is swingably mounted, and means is provided for swinging the side wall to open the chamber.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim '7 comprising a receptacle for main carton body sections adjacent the swingable side wall, and means for transferring a body section from the receptacle into the chamber.

9. Apparatus for supplying carton ends to a packaging system comprising a casing adapted to serve as a conduit for movement of the carton ends to the packaging stage, two loading chambers on opposite sides of the casing, and a slide reciprocable transversely of the casing and loading chambers, said slide having two laterally spaced apertures for receiving the carton ends, one of said apertures being in alignment with one of the loading chambers when the other is in alignment with the casing.

10. Apparatus for supplying articles to an operation stage comprising a casing to receive the article supplied, two loading chambers having reciprocable plungers therein, the chambers being in opposite sides of the casing, a slide having two laterally spaced apertures reciprocable transversely of the casing and loading chambers, the apertures being spaced apart so that when one of the apertures is in alignment with the casing, the other is in alignment with the plunger in one of the loading chambers, a magazine for carton end sections associated with each loading chamber, means for transferring a carton end from each of the magazines respectively to opposite sides of the plane of the apertured slide in the associated loading chambers, the plunger in each chamber being disposed on the same side of the slide as that to which the carton ends are transferred, and means for selectively reciprocating the plungers to press the respective carton ends into the apertures of the slide when each is disposed in its respective loading chamber.

11. A baling chamber having removable end walls and a swingable side wall, a magazine for main carton body sections adjacent the swingable side wall, and means for transferring a body section into the chamber through the side wall.

12. Apparatus for supplying articles to an operation stage comprising a casing to receive the article supplied, two loading chambers having reciprocable plungers therein, the chambers being in opposite sides of the casing, a slide having two laterally spaced apertures reciprocable transversely of the casing and loading chambers, the apertures being spaced apart so that when one of the apertures is in alignment with the casing, the other is in alignment with the plunger in one of the loading chambers, a magazine for a plurality of the articles associated with each loading chamber, means for transferring an article from each of the magazines respectively to opposite sides of the plane of the apertured slide in the associated loading chambers, the plunger in each chamber being disposed on the same side of the slide as that to which the articles are transferred, and means for selectively reciprocating the plungers to press the respective articles into the apertures of the slide when each is disposed in its respective loading chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 190,852 Hanger May 15, 1877 1,333,067 Evans et al. Mar. 9, 1920 1,552,814 Anderson Sept. 8, 1925 1,637,543 Barrows Aug. 2, 1927 1,682,275 Gonzalez Aug. 28, 1928 1,749,509 Rollman Mar. 4, 1930 1,981,463 Nejedly Nov. 20, 1934 2,396,720 Nolt Mar. 19, 1946 2,521,996 Ray et a1 Sept. 12, 1950 

